Chapter Six - To Touch a Heart
Hecate's shrill scream pierced the skies as she curled over the dead body of her husband. "Aideonus, my love... NOOOO!" She beat at her breast, weeping violently over him. "My love, my love... how could you leave me like this here... how...?!"
Diamund bowed his head in grief beside his mother as he shed tears, while Safire stood still, his face grey, his hands clenched at his sides. The people around them mourned their dead leader, grief and anger... and something like fear... etched on their faces.
Hecate felt her hands brush against something, and she carefully pulled out a moon-shaped dagger red with his blood. She stared at it, tears streaming down her face, and then her eyes filled with rage.
"Serenity..." she growled through clenched teeth. "You dared to kill my husband and my king?! Not even on the open battlefield but in secret within the shadows?!"
Angry murmurs ran through the crowd. "Kill them!!" someone shouted. "Kill the Moon Kingdom!!!"
"Revenge on our King!" another voice cried. "Let the Moon Kingdom run red with blood!"
The shouts spread and grew, swelled until the troops were all screaming for vengeance on Serenity and her people. Hecate stood up, her silver eyes filled with stormy fire, and spoke.
"We march now, my people. Before the sun sets tomorrow, the Moon Kingdom will be drenched in crimson.. and Serenity's head will garnish the tallest tower of the Palace."
* * * * * * * *
Beads of sweat dripped from Mercury's face, yet she was not aware of it as she bent over Saturn, a blue light surrounding them both. The rest of the Senshi watched the two with grave eyes.
"She did succeed...." Uranus muttered. "I knew she would."
"Don't you think the price may be too high?" Jupiter said tightly.
Mars furrowed her brow in worry as she stood next to the still girl. Perhaps her mind is more wounded than her body.... her heart, why does it ache so? She suppressed a sigh. Venus absently tapped a finger against her elbow, her blue eyes narrowed in worry, while Neptune and Pluto were talking among themselves in low voices.
"Did you feel it as well?" Pluto said hesitantly.
"..." Neptune chewed on her lip. "Do.. do you think we're right? I.. feel what you feel as well, but I do not want to believe that..."
"Her aura has changed," Pluto said firmly. "You and I both know that. She is no longer a girl. She is a woman."
Neptune glanced at the still form in regret. "She must have done it... to better approach the enemy. She would never betray us nor Serenity."
"Her heart still aches, although she refuses to acknowledge it," Uranus said flatly, startling the two of them. "Duty and love do no go hand in hand."
Mercury stopped, weary, as Saturn opened her eyes slowly. "...Mercury?"
"Saturn? Can you see me?" Mercury asked. Saturn nodded and tried to sit up, but Venus pushed her down with a firm hand. "No, Saturn, you must stay here and rest. You deserve to rest. You have saved us all."
"..." Saturn shook her head. "Not yet... but my mission is complete, Venus. I did what I went to do."
"You did well," Uranus said briskly. Saturn nodded again, and then sat up despite Venus' protests. "The Dark Moon clan will be here very soon, but I sent word to the Earth troops earlier, so if we hold out until sunset, we will have won."
"The enemy troops will be here around noon," Neptune surmised. "But perhaps the barrier will hold them for a few hours yet, since Aideonus no longer is here."
"No." Saturn shook her head. "The barrier will not hold an hour."
"...?" Everyone stared at her, and Mars arched a brow. Saturn turned her gaze to her. "They have... a source of great power with them, and although with luck it can be turned to our side, we will have a hard time to match it until that time."
"Great power?" Venus demanded. "What-?"
Pain shot through all of them, making them all cry out as the Palace walls trembled. "They approach!!" Jupiter gasped. "They near the Palace!"
"Aerin-san will rally the warriors. Senshi, to your posts! Whatever happens, the Kingdom must not fall!"
The eight Senshi swiftly disappeared in a flash of light.
* * * * * * * *
"We are at least two, three hours behind them," Helios muttered, mounting his red charger after reading the tracks left by the enemy troops. "They left in quite a hurry. Why?"
"We will not wait for Kunzite to come back and report," Demeter snapped. She shivered to think of Serenity and Aerin at the mercy of the Dark Moon clan - blood did not link them, but a childhood together did, and she would ride to the death if it meant she could save them and their kingdom. "Time runs short."
"Forward!!" Helios shouted to the bannerman, who held the blue and green standard of Earth over their heads. A cross within a circle signaled the troops to advance at a fast trot which barely escaped being a gallop. Rion urged his horse forward. "I will meet Kunzite halfway!" he shouted over his shoulder to Helios. Endymion frowned, but decided to stay put with the other generals, watching his older brother gallop out of sight.
It was almost a half-hour when he caught sight of Kunzite racing towards the direction from which he had come. "Kunzite!" Rion roared.
The white-haired general reigned in his horse and stood until Rion caught up to him. "Well?"
"..." Kunzite furrowed his brow, his eyes puzzled and grim all at once. "There is a definite reason as to why the Dark Moon troops move so quickly, and so suddenly."
"What is it?"
"Aidoneus has been killed."
Rion felt his jaw drop. "Aidoneus is dead?!" he said disbelievingly. The thoughts that raced through his mind nearly made him fall off his horse. "Kunzite... you don't think..."
"He was killed by someone of the Moon Kingdom," Kunzite said crisply. "That is all we know, and that is all we will tell. It was not under official orders, and neither Serenity nor any of her Senshi have anything to do with this."
Rion clamped his mouth shut. "....Of course."
Kunzite turned his horse around. "I will keep track of the troops, and if anything goes out of what we expected, I will turn back and report. Go back, Rion, and tell Helios to hurry."
Are all of you like that? Rion wondered as he galloped back toward the troops. Ready to do whatever it takes to fulfill your duty, even if it means breaking all the rules of the Planets?
* * * * * * * *
Hecate steadied her horse with a skilled hand and gazed at the Palace. It was still white, still whole, graceful, magnificent, proud - enclosed with a clear dome that no one person would be able to break. It was doubtful if the entire army would be able to break it... although if Aideonus had been here- Hecate closed her eyes to shut off all thought.
"Attack!" Diamund shouted, at the head of the troops. "By all the stars, we will make this shatter and break the Moon Kingdom along with it!!"
As the warriors flung themselves against the barrier, Hecate motioned shortly to Safire. "Bring me the mirror, my son."
Safire bowed, then lead his horse to one of the packhorses, sliding out with difficulty the sleek black mirror underneath. He held it at arm's length for a moment. So, this is the power supposedly able to kill us all. Why did Father not use it sooner? He gave it over to Hecate, who had dismounted. She made him lay it on the ground.
With Aidoneus' sword she slit her wrist and let her blood drip onto the shiny surface. Safire watched, mesmerized, as the blood spread, covered the mirror, and light suddenly blinded them, light brighter than noon. "Blood calls to blood!" Hecate cried. "Come forth, Daughter!"
The blood twisted, gathered, and sprang up to create a form of a person, a girl. Slowly, shadow covered the figure, and when Safire could see again, there stood a tall, pale-faced maiden, with Hecate's face and form, but Aideonus' soul looking out from her eyes. He felt the world around him spin, and nearly fell to his knees as he gazed upon her face. "...Opal?!"
"Greetings, brother," she said quietly, reaching up to kiss his cheek. "And greetings, Mother," she bowed. With her dark blue eyes she looked around, a touch of wonder breaking through her cold reserve. "The time has come, so it seems."
"My Daughter, the Moon Kingdom has slayed your father!" Hecate snarled, pointing to the Palace. "Destroy them, Opal! Open the gates for us so that we may conquer and take vengeance! It is for this you were born!"
* * * * * * * *
"Is that all?"
The initial pain.. the pain that warned them of danger to their barrier... was gone, and now the Senshi stared down at the warriors vainly attacking the dome. Had there been no dome, they would have had their hands full, even with their own armies rested and ready for battle. As it was, even Aerin looked at their enemies with weary disbelief. Luna and Artemis, the two advisors for Serenity, had come up from tending the refugees and joined Aerin along with the Senshi.
"Why aren't Aidoneus and Hecate attacking?" Luna said practically, shaking her dark violet curls. "They would be able to break the barrier much easier than these warriors." The Senshi exchanged glances... no one had told anyone about the death of Aideonus yet.
Saturn narrowed her eyes to making out Hecate standing at the very back of the troops, with Safire... and....
"NO!" she shouted, startling the other Senshi. "Strengthen the barrier! Now!!"
"Saturn, what-"
"NOW!" Saturn's entire body glowed with purple light, so bright that everyone was dazed for a brief moment. Venus nodded at the rest, and the light was magnified tenfold as the other Senshi joined her. Aerin gave Saturn a puzzled glance, but disappeared to make sure his troops were ready. Artemis motioned to his wife, and they quickly went to join Serenity in her chambers.
As the light shone with the power of the eight planets, suddenly a darkness began to wrap itself around the dome. The Dark Moon troops backed off in awe, as the shadows grew thicker and thicker until it was as dark as night. The Senshi all joined hands to strengthen their field, a ripple of uncertainty passing through them.
Black lightening struck in a million places, crackling and sparking around the Palace as if bent on the utter destruction of it and every living being within its walls. The Senshi screamed as pain like the cracking of whips hit them with alarming force. The barrier flickered visibly. Lightening darted through the weakness, hitting the Palace and crumbling white stone, making the walls tremble. The Senshi redoubled their efforts, and the dome flickered to solidness for a short instant. Then lightening struck again. Already a handful of enemy troops had entered the Palace grounds through the weaknesses, although quite a few had perished with tortured screams when they were caught within the dome itself.
A dart of black light flashed from the sky, passing through the dome at a weak point and hitting the Senshi where they stood. The girls were thrown to the ground, dazed and wounded, and the barrier vanished.
"It... It cannot be..." Venus whispered, supporting herself on one hand. "This cannot be."
"It is," Pluto said calmly, using her Orb to stand up. "Saturn, is that what you were talking about?"
Saturn nodded. "I am not sure about her, but from what I gather I think Hecate will not let her unleash her power again until she has her before Serenity. Her power is a double-edged sword."
"Her?" Jupiter demanded. "You mean a person, a girl did that?"
"We're girls as well, or have you forgotten?" Uranus arched a brow in a brief flash of humor. Jupiter flushed.
The sounds of battle reached their ears, and Venus staggered to her feet. "Never mind. We must hold them back for awhile yet, until the Earth troops can meet us. Hurry!"
Mars bit her lip, sensing on the very edges of her mind that the power which had broken them was linked to them somehow... but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. Not the power.. something behind it? With a tightening of her mouth she joined the other Senshi as they leapt down to join the battle.
* * * * * * * *
Hecate gathered her children around her and stayed in the very rear of the fighting, her silver eyes filled with patience, the patience she never had shown before. The only thought burning in her mind was to kill Serenity.
No. No, not Serenity first. First Aerin. I will drown Aerin in his own blood while Serenity watches, and I will make her feel the pain that consumes me now...
A slight shift in the balance of the fighting told that the Senshi had joined. "Listen carefully, children," she said quietly. Opal sat behind Safire, her dark eyes unblinking. "The battle around us has no real meaning. What we must do is slay Serenity and Aerin, and their child. There lies the heart of the Moon Kingdom, and..."
Opal shut off her mother's voice as she caught a familiar eye in the crowd. Saturn wielded her Glaive gracefully, leaving a trail of death where she danced, but she froze as she met Opal's gaze. Opal opened her mind to the girl. What do you fight for, Hotaru?
I fight for the golden light you seek to destroy, Saturn replied as she let herself be swept away by the battle. Opal blinked. Safire caught her staring at something and followed her gaze, but all he caught was a glimpse of Saturn's hair. He shook his head. Coincidence.
"The fighting is at its hottest now," Hecate was saying, "and the Senshi are within the battle. Let us go now, my children, and take blood for blood!"
"We follow you, Mother," Diamund shouted as he heeled his horse, slashing a way for the rest of them to come through.
Safire felt his
sister wrap her arms around his waist as they rode. "Are you...
all right, sister?" he asked softly. She did not reply.
* * * * * * * *
Helios strained his eyes until he could make out the faint outline of the Palace. Their troops were galloping at a swift pace, swifter than any normal army would ever march, and already their horses were covered with lather. Demeter was casting a healing spell over the troops, while urging all possible speed from them.
"The barrier is no longer there," Helios said shortly. "It is gone. The Dark Moon troops have broken through."
"How long?" Demeter asked tightly.
"Half an hour, at this rate," Helios smiled briefly. They had covered nearly half a day's distance within a few hours. Demeter nodded and raised her voice. "Hurry, my people!" The Earth troops doubled their efforts as they raced toward the battle.
* * * * * * * *
Palace servants fell like trees in a high wind as Hecate and her children passed like a whirlwind through the hallways, Hecate foremost, her teeth bared in rage. "SERENITY!" she shrieked, her voice echoing against the walls.
As the small group reached the floor where Serenity slept with her daughter, Luna and Artemis stood calmly in front of them. "You cannot pass by here," Artemis said firmly, his green eyes glowing with a dangerous light. "Go back, Hecate-san. Go back and gather your people, and swear you will never intrude on Serenity's power again."
Hecate snorted. "Go back? Yes, I will go back... with Serenity's blood on my husband's sword!" She unleashed a fury of energy on the two, a globe of black shadows whirling around them. Luna cried out while Artemis grunted, his arm protectively around Luna, yet neither of them gave way. With an effort both of them broke free of the attack, panting, and Artemis drew his sword, stepping between them and Luna.
Hecate glared, gathering her strength for more power, but Opal raised a hand and stepped forward. Artemis tensed, while her brothers stared, but Opal was calm as she stood and looked the two in the eye. "Why do you let yourselves be hurt by someone more powerful than you? No matter how you struggle, you cannot prevail. The result is the same either way."
"I - we - swore by blood," Luna answered in a fierce, low voice. "We swore to protect Serenity, Queen of the Moon and Protector of the Planets, and Light of the Stars. We, and Aerin-san, and the Senshi, and every warrior fighting out there now! As long as breath is in our body, you will not reach our Queen."
Opal nodded briefly, wonderingly. "I wish to meet this Queen of yours, to see why you follow her so."
A silver nimbus surrounded the girl, and Luna and Artemis were both flung against the wall with bone-jarring force. Safire could not take his gaze off his sister, who could have been gazing outside at the scenery, the way she looked at the two of them. He did not shrink from being hard, but seeing his sister like this... Diamund look surprised, but also satisfied, and Hecate had a thoughtful eye on her daughter. Opal bowed briefly at her mother. "After you, Mother."
* * * * * * * *
Aerin paused, blood dripping from his sword, as he swept the scene with his eyes. The Moon warriors were giving a good account of themselves, but they were still being hard-pressed. The Senshi still looked good for awhile yet...
"Aerin?" Uranus paused and addressed the Prince casually. The Outer Senshi never showed more than minimal respect for anyone. "Anything wrong?"
"...Nothing, not really," he replied absently. "Something seems.. odd.."
The tall Senshi scanned the battlefield and narrowed her eyes. "Where is Hecate... and her children?"
Aerin cursed and whirled around. "Serenity!" he shouted as he dashed into the Palace. Uranus paused for a short moment, then made up her mind. No need to alarm the others. She slipped off after Aerin.
Just as they disappeared into the Palace, Mars lifted her head as she felt something approaching on the horizon. Her eyes narrowed, then widened, and they sparkled like fire coming back to life. "They come!!" she shouted with all her might. "Earth comes to us!!"
"Earth comes!!" the cry rang out among the warriors from both sides, spoken both with hope and despair. The Senshi grinned at each other, weariness falling away from them like a cloak. Neptune searched for Uranus' eyes, but she was not there. Joy turned to concern. Pluto and Saturn also glanced at each other.
"Serenity," Pluto muttered. And without another thought the Outer Senshi trailed Aerin and Uranus.
* * * * * * * *
Serenity held her child tightly to her breast as she stood by the cradle from where she had snatched her up. All over the room maids and servants moaned, some of them silent with eyes glazed. Hecate stood, flanked by her two sons, and her daughter next to her.
"So it has come to this, Hecate," Serenity said in a low voice. She eyed the side door to her room casually... it wasn't a door at all, at least not in the normal sense, and only Aerin and she knew where it was, hidden underneath a tapestry. Too far away. "Does your thirst for power drive you so?"
"My thirst?!" Hecate said tightly. They made an odd contrast, the dark woman facing the light one, the Moon and her Shadow. "No, not my thirst, Serenity. Yours. Your greed to rule the system uncontested was so strong you ignored my people when you know we have equal rights as joint rulers of the Moon! The other Planets turn their heads the other way but they also know what you do is wrong, and I swear I will not rest until you pay for what you have done!"
"I never challenged your rights on our Moon," Serenity was calm, but her arms trembled as she held her daughter to her breast. "You sought to be ruler over the Senshi, therefore controlling all nine Planets at your whim! I cannot let that happen, Hecate. You broke the Pact between all the stars, and the punishment for that is death, but if you surrender-"
"Surrender?!" Hecate shrieked. "No, Serenity, I will never bow my head to you. Not if the solar system turns into dust! Your blood will stain Aidoneus' sword, and when you meet him in the Underworld you will beg for mercy at his feet!"
Serenity suddenly stared at the other woman. "What?"
"You vile witch!!!" Hecate unleashed a bolt of energy, which Serenity blocked with difficulty, her body curled protectively over her child. "You killed him!"
Opal felt her mother tremble on the brink of insanity, and quickly stepped forward, starting cooly at Serenity. She seemed familiar somehow... of course, she had seen her in her dreams. The light that Hotaru protects? The light that I must quench? And to what purpose?
The child in Serenity's arms squirmed to turn and see Opal. She gurgled, then let out a small bubble of laughter as her blue eyes met Opal's own. Opal nearly stepped back as she met the baby's gaze, as if it was a physical blow. Serenity studied the girl, then her eyes flickered back to Hecate. She spoke in a soft, fierce voice. "I did not kill Aidoneus, Hecate. Nor did I order it done."
"Do not lie to me!" Hecate snarled. Opal still blocked her path, and she ignored her mother's burning rage.
"Do you wish to live, Serenity?" she said suddenly, her voice young and clear.
Both women stared at her, and Serenity blinked once. She could sense the raw power... it was almost tangible, crackling in the air. But there was something about it that was almost familiar. "I do. But there are things I value more than my life."
"How about your child?" Opal could have been talking about a dress for all the concern she showed.
Serenity stiffened, and tightened her grasp on the babe. "You will not touch her as long as I have breath in me."
"So will it pain you to lose your daughter?" Hecate smiled suddenly, her eyes narrowed. "As much as it pained me to lose my love? An eye for an eye, Serenity."
As if he had heard her order him, Diamund dashed toward Serenity. The Queen swiftly stepped back and formed a light shield, but her power was still weak and Safire easily broke it, reaching out to grab her wrist as Diamund took the baby into his arms. A shriek escaped Serenity's lips, and Diamund laughed as he held the Princess, who began to wail. Opal stood still, watching it all. I have no real reason to kill her, but do I have a reason not to? She could feel her blood, the blood of her clan, pulsing within her, demanding revenge, lusting for battle.
But there was something else, something she could feel faintly, like the heartbeat of someone very near. Something that almost resonated with the aura of the babe in Diamund's arms, with eight other auras somewhere close by.
If she showed me light, I would give my life for her..
Hecate drew the blade that had been her husband's and stood in front of Serenity. The Queen stared up at her, still in Safire's iron grip, and defiance, like the Palace itself shone in her blue eyes. "You can slay me, but Aerin and the Senshi still stand. Earth moves towards the Palace even now!"
"If you die, Serenity, all of it ends. All of it." Hecate slowly lifted the sword. "I thought about killing your little girl, but I think not. I think I will keep her alive, and give her to my daughter as a maid. Or shall I give her to Diamund, for a servant?" Her laughter rang against the walls, satisfaction burning in her silver eyes. Serenity's face was a mask. "Know this before you die, Serenity. Know and despair, that your people will scatter like sheep after the death of you and Aerin. The Senshi I will bend to my will and chain them to my throne, and your people will suffer dearly because of what you have done to me and mine!"
The sword was already in the air as the side door suddenly burst open. Hecate gave it not a second glance as with a shout of triumph she plunged the sword toward Serenity.
Serenity shut her eyes tightly, despair making her stifle - My love, my people, my Senshi.. my daughter... forgive me! - but instead of pain she felt two arms surround her tightly, and a familiar - oh, all too familiar - voice in her ear. "Seren..ity..."
Her eyes flew open to see her husband's body slumped over hers. A warm wetness was dampening her dress, flowing out of his body. Beyond him, Hecate held a blood-stained sword.
The Senshi burst into the room in time to hear Serenity's heartbreaking wail, as she fell to her knees with her husband's head in her lap. Safire had let his grip loose as soon as the Senshi had entered the room - his attention seemed to be drawn to them, to one of them, in particular.
"Aerin, my love..." Her eyes were wide, her lips white, but no tears stained her cheeks. "No, you cannot do this to me!!" Her voice broke. "You cannot go before me, Aerin, you swore to protect me from all harm..."
"My blood spilled and my breath gone before yours," Aerin smiled as he looked up at his wife, reciting part of his Oath. His eyes were already becoming dull. "My.... Sereni..ty.."
"No," Uranus breathed as Aerin slumped in Serenity's arms. Neptune put a hand over her mouth, while Pluto closed her eyes briefly. Saturn turned away. Hecate was laughing as if she had heard a fine joke as she stood over Serenity. Opal took in the Senshi unconcernedly, her eyes fixed on Aerin and Serenity, while her brothers stared at them warily. Safire froze as he caught sight of Saturn. No.
The Senshi swiftly stood around Serenity, facing the Dark Moon clan. Safire forced himself to look Saturn in the eye, not wanting to see what was in front of him. Saturn felt his gaze pierce through her and stab her heart, but her eyes were as cold as purple shards of crystal. Don't look at me like that, Safire. Look at me with hatred, as if I was your enemy. Not as if I had betrayed your very soul...
Serenity's tears seemed to be frozen in her eyes as she looked up. Her hand gripped a small dagger, holding across her wrist. "You have made a very bad mistake, Hecate," she said quietly. "Even you should know what happens if I sacrifice my blood. Even you could not survive the disaster that would follow."
The Senshi tensed. If Serenity shed her blood willingly, she would unleash a force that would kill the Dark Moon clan entirely. But the Moon depended on her for existence, as a temple depended on its pillars to stand. Hecate knew that perfectly well. Which was why she smiled pleasantly at Serenity. "At the cost of your people?"
"Our blood will be spilled before yours, my Queen," Pluto said firmly, and the other Senshi nodded assent. "Just as Aerin-san's was."
Opal's eyes widened slightly. "Who are you?" she suddenly demanded of Serenity. "Who are you that these people willingly pledge their life to you?"
Safire's gaze still held Saturn. So that is who your chains hold you to... Saturn steeled herself, blocking out the memory of Aidoneus' dying eyes, pushing down the feeling of Safire's strong hands on her back. NO! I swore I would not betray my Queen for anything...
Not even love? Safire's eyes held the unspoken question.
Serenity took in Opal, her blue eyes taking on a different sort of light as she looked at the girl. "I am just a woman," she said quietly. "A woman blessed with loyal Senshi, Senshi that have vowed allegiance to me because I in turn have pledged to guard the Planets. And who are you, child?" she asked in turn. "I can sense... something in you. You are no stranger. Why are your eyes so deep, so weary?"
"Do not listen to her!" Hecate took her daughter by the shoulders. "She is the enemy of your father, Opal. She is the one you must kill!"
The Inner Senshi shot into the room. Venus leapt into the air the moment she entered, her golden chain flashing out and hitting Diamund's eyes. He snarled in pain, letting go of the younger Serenity. Mars rushed to catch her, but another pair of hands held the baby before she could. Opal's.
"Well done, my daughter," Hecate said in satisfaction. "Bind the Senshi!"
The battle-weary Senshi were more startled than anything else as black ropes lashed out to tie them, leaving them bound helpless on the floor. The baby in Opal's arms had stopped her crying and looked up at Opal solemnly, pulling at her hair. Opal ignored her as she faced Serenity, who was still calm. "Please look after my daughter, Opal."
"Kill her!!" Black energy swirled around Hecate, and both of her sons joined her. Light also surrounded Opal, her eyes ever-fixed on the silver-haired Queen. Her beautiful face was serene, and it almost looked as if it shone with a golden light. The Senshi stared, horror and despair in their eyes, as Hecate raised a hand towards Serenity. Lightening lashed out, streaking towards Serenity.
And Opal could feel the two energies within her battling each other, tearing at her, each striving to overcome the other. Destroy her. Protect her. She killed your father. She is the light. They are your family. They are your true sisters. Embrace your destiny...
And the baby laughed, a clear, beautiful sound in the midst of all the chaos.
The lightening hit a field of energy and was reflected, hitting Hecate with such force that she was thrown against the wall. Hecate's face was filled with disbelief as she stared at her daughter, standing in front of Serenity. Diamund and Safire were likewise dumbstruck. The bonds around the Senshi vanished, and the baby Serenity gurgled in Opal's arms.
"...Why...?..." Hecate demanded in a hoarse voice, falling to the floor. Her eyes were wide as Opal took one step forward, no more.
"You never taught me what I fought for," Opal said softly. "You never showed me light."
Saturn jerked at those words. Opal suddenly shone with a silver light that blinded them all, as her clothes swirled and changed to a fuku like that of the Senshi, all black and silver. And the darkness that seemed to fill the room dispersed as clouds before the sun. She stood tall, and Hecate smiled bitterly with her last breath, at her daughter as a Sailor Senshi. Venus' jaw dropped, while Mars exchanged glances with Saturn. She is one of us. The Shadow of the Moon. She gave up her legacy of her Dark Moon powers... powers strong enough to defeat us all... to become a Senshi.
"Did you know, Aidoneus?" Hecate whispered, so soft that they could barely hear her. Opal picked up Aidoneus' blade, and it shimmered in her hand to become a long staff with a crescent on the top.
"He knew," Opal - or whoever she was - said gravely. "He knew what I was... and what I could become"
Hecate's eyes were glazed over, her body limp. Safire's lips moved, but no sounds came out. Diamund's scream was terrible to hear. Opal stood, her eyes unreadable, and she turned towards Serenity.
In a heartbeat Safire had his sword bared, aimed for her heart. All the Senshi tensed, but it was a shining Glaive that pierced Safire in his side, drawing blood as he staggered with a grunt of pain.
Diamund's form glowed with energy already prepared to attack, but the four Inner Senshi quickly surrounded him, forcing him to his knees. Diamund spat on the ground. "Your people will pay, Serenity!! I swear by the blood of my Mother and Father!! The Kingdom will be crushed into the ground no matter how many lifetimes it will take me!" Jupiter slapped him into glowering silence.
The Outer Senshi knelt beside Serenity. Safire fell on one knee before Saturn, and her face could have been carved out of stone.
"So... this is what you wanted..." Safire's voice was filled with bitterness and pain, his eyes burning with a steady hatred. "I thought.. perhaps you cared..."
"My heart is with my Queen and with no other," Saturn said, her voice drained of all feeling.
"I could have left my people for you," Safire's eyes never left her face. "You brought about the death of my father and my mother. You knew who I was."
"I did."
"Did you love me?"
Saturn flinched at the question I do not love him. I cannot. "No."
As the Senshi moved to bind the two men, Safire's eyes never left her face. "If you had said yes, I would have accepted your choice. But I swear now that I will never rest till what you chose as your love lies in dust and ruin around you."
The rest of the Senshi remained silent, surrounding the princes swiftly. Serenity stood with held from Venus. Opal stood in front of Saturn as her brothers were taken out of the room. "You lied."
Saturn glared at her with eyes full of cold pain, and a single tear shone on her cheek. Opal's voice hardened. "Let that be your last tear for the enemy, Sailor Saturn."
"Who are you?" Serenity said quietly, as she faced the girl. Opal still held the Princess in her arms as she knelt to the Queen.
"I do not know who I am, my Lady." Her blue eyes looked up, dark and clear at the same time. "All I know is that you have shown me light."
Serenity touched the dark crescent on her forehead gently. "Sailor Dark Moon," she said softly. "The Shadow of the Light."
"Will you execute me, my Queen?" Dark Moon asked. "As the daughter of a rebel?"
"You have already proven yourself as a Senshi, Dark Moon," Serenity shook her head. "You are bound to us as surely as any other Senshi here."
The other Senshi watched silently as Dark Moon took the oath of a Senshi then and there, with the baby Serenity cooing contentedly in her arms.
* * * * * * * *